Hannah Bowen

Democratic state representative for the 6th Essex District in Massachusetts, representing Beverly and Precinct 1 of Wenham.

Hannah Bowen grew up in Swampscott, Massachusetts. She experienced economic hardship in middle school when her father was laid off from his job at General Electric, and her family relied on unemployment benefits and her mother's salary as a public school art teacher—an experience that shaped her commitment to public service.

Before entering electoral politics, Bowen spent approximately 20 years working in nonprofit management, focusing on international development, global health, sustainable investing, and good governance. She served as a Peace Corps volunteer in rural Ghana, worked as a project manager at a county agency in California's wine country, and held leadership roles at organizations including the Intentional Endowments Network, RESULTS, and Malaria No More.

Education and Political Experience

Bowen holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science from Yale University and a Master's in Public Administration in International Development from Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

She served as Executive Director of The Resolution Center from June 2021 until May 2025, overseeing programs, training, mediators, staff, and court operations that provided alternative dispute resolution to hundreds of Essex County residents annually.

Bowen was elected to the Beverly City Council at Large in 2022, serving until 2025. During her tenure on city council, she took on National Grid in 2022 and secured protections for residents during a transmission line project, championed an ordinance allowing homeowners to build accessory dwelling units to address housing needs, and led efforts to increase transparency and auditing in city government. She served as Chair of the Committee on Public Service and as Council Liaison to the Police Community Advisory Committee.

She was first elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in a special election in May 2025 for the 6th Essex District. In the 2025-26 session, she serves on the Joint Committees on Housing, Labor and Workforce Development, State Administration and Regulatory Oversight, and Transportation.